VIEWS OF CORRESPONDENTS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 130, 19 February 1918, Page 6

VIEWS OF CORRESPONDENTS

ONLY ONE THING TO DO. (To .the Editor.) Sir,—l am strongly of the opinion that the result of the coming poll will he largely in favour of the National Government selection, due to the good sense of the electors and their objection to throw away votes that would only help an undesirable candidate. During the war the opposition (on cither side) should have abstained from putting up a candidate against the one selected by the two leaders. It is a useless waste of expenditure at such a time. Undoubtedly Mr. Luke and Mr. Brandon jvill split a- large majority vote in favour of -the Reform Government party, but will it not give a good fighting chance to Mr. Holland, much of whose platform oratory is wholly at variance with all those who have the true interest of the Dominion at heart. He loudly voices what he will do and whatxhe won't do when he getsjnlo Parliament. 'But what could he do if he were successful ? Waste the time of the House, pile up the expense of the pull in the same beat as Messrs. Webb and Payne. As for Mr. Poison, no one treats his 2andidnture seriously, any more than they did the suggestion of Colonel Hughes or Mr. A. J. Whyte as probable contestants. Mr. Poison's "go" seems cnly to be caused through the desire of Dr. Thacker to have an opportunity of rating the Defence Minister. Are the electors so hard up for someone lo air their views that the doctor had to be sent for to do so? Hardly that, sir, surely. So I think it would be advisable for the doctor to take up bis soapbox and go home.—l am, etc., NOT U BUT "THE M'KENZIE." "A WAY OUT." Sir,—lt is evident that Messrs. Massey and Ward made a mistake in forcing Mr. Luke on the electors, which may be the means of gutting in Mr. Holland, who would always be a thorn in tho side of the National Government. Few will object to Mr. Luke on any personal grounds, and ho has made a most energetic and self-sacrificing Mayor; but he is a professional politician, and that is a very serious objection to him. As an easy way out of the difficulty, I suggest the" Government find him an appointment at, say, £500 per annum, and let him retire from the election. He is capable and trustworthy, and there must be many positions where he could he advantageously employed. That would leave the issue between the tliree remaining candidates, and would result in an easy win for Mr. Brandon, who is an ardent "win-the-war" advocate.—l am, etc., AJAX.